Can the lotus root you buy be grown into a lotus flower?

Lotus flowers have been loved by Chinese people from ancient times to now, and many families grow potted lotus at home. So can lotus root bought at the market grow into a lotus flower?

1. Can bought lotus root grow into a lotus flower?

It is not that you can plant any section of lotus root casually bought at the vegetable market; you need to buy one with a lotus sprout to be able to plant it. Of course, if conditions allow, you can also go to a lotus field and pull up one; sometimes the vegetable market also has ones with sprouts, so buy the ones with short joints, which are shallow-water lotus root varieties. If there is really no other way, use lotus seeds to plant (you can collect them when the lotus seeds form and plant them the next year). For lotus seeds with shells, use a small knife to cut off the pointed tip so it is easier for water to enter, absorb water and sprout.

2. How do you grow potted lotus root?

1. The best pot depth for planting lotus root is 70 cm high, with 20 cm of dead leaves and straw placed at the bottom, then 20 cm of chicken manure soil spread on top. The pot can be square; when the lotus sprout touches the wall it will swell into lotus root, so large fields and large ponds are not the best containers for growing it. For a more refined approach, make partitions to let the lotus root swell.

2. Spread flower fertilizer and flower soil inside the flower pot. If conditions allow, you can put in some fermented food scraps or animal manure such as chicken manure as the base material for growing lotus root.

3. Pre-sprout the lotus seeds in advance, soak the seeds in warm water for a period of time, then wrap them in a wet towel and place them in a warm spot. Once the seeds sprout, they can be transplanted.

4. Frequently add water and keep an eye on them, waiting for the lotus to grow and sprout. During the process, no pruning is needed. In summer the flowers will be very beautiful. In rural areas they can be planted in the yard, and in cities they can be placed on a warm balcony. It is recommended to plant several plants to make pollination easier for the lotus. Indoors in the city, artificial pollination can be done by using a cotton swab to pick up pollen and transfer it to another flower.

5. After the lotus flowers fade in autumn, the lotus root can be harvested. The harvesting method is very simple: add water to wash away the soil in the flower pot, and you can get clean, fresh lotus root.

Only bought lotus root with sprouts can be grown, but there are relatively few lotus roots with sprouts on the market. If you want to grow them, it is best to use lotus seeds.